On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a bill to fund the United States government, officially ending a record-breaking 43-day shutdown.
The shutdown had left thousands of federal workers without pay, caused delays at airports, and led many people to seek help from food banks.
The shutdown began after a disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over health care funding. Democrats wanted to extend a tax credit that helps Americans afford health insurance, while Republicans said that issue should be dealt with later. Because they couldn’t agree, the government ran out of money and closed many of its offices and services.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on Thursday and had already been approved by the Senate earlier in the week.
The new law funds parts of the government until January 30. It also makes sure federal workers get back pay and won’t lose their jobs right away. People who depend on food assistance programmes will continue to receive help for the rest of the budget year.
While this ends the shutdown, many lawmakers remain unhappy. Some Republicans were upset about last-minute changes to the bill, and Democrats were disappointed that the health care tax credit was not included. They worry that without the credit, many Americans will lose their health insurance or face higher costs.
